AlZilla

Welcome to the forum. Not knowing the history of that piece makes it tough It might be that it had something applied or spilled in those spots that prevents the conditioner from soaking in. It might evaporate with time. Maybe some time sitting out in the sun? How about a picture? Smarter people that I will certainly weigh in presently. Don't be in a rush.

Maybe you could post that kit you found and get some opinions. They're are a bunch of them. Here's a post by a guy doing some amazing work with a $50 amazon starter kit: https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/125186-leather-projects-using-50-dollars-of-amazon-tools/#comment-771141 Maybe it'll give you some inspiration. Keep us posted as you progress!

Quite nice, I think. I appreciate the fact of the natural creases in the non-carved face. I like my items to look like the genuine full grain leather they they are, just like the animal wore it. Well, dye, finishes, etc. are fine.

Well, Wallets, Hatbands and Coasters all give an opportunity for stamping and carving. Here's an interesting post from an old leather hand stranded away from his tools and how he scratched the leather crafting itch with starter tools: https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/125186-leather-projects-using-50-dollars-of-amazon-tools/#comment-771141 Trolling WalterF's posts on his profile page should turn up more than a few ideas.

I'm guessing that machine is what we would call a "441 clone". In other words, a clone of the Juki 441. Breaking the needle could mean you knocked the timing off. After making sure it turns freely all the way around, I'll suggest you start with the 2 videos below to see where your hook timing is at. Also notice when you turn it over if the feed dog and hook move. It might be as simple as a popped safety clutch. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT3AVgj_HLI https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_f3yszCKBAg&pp=ugUEEgJlbtIHCQkVCgGHKiGM7w%3D%3D Report back and smarter people than me will be on standby...

In 1835, a guy named Walter Hunt moved the eye of a sewing needle to the pointy end for the sewing machine he was working on. The very next day, he caught a load of grief about the stupid BOBBIN from some guy on Reddit. It still rages today ...

This exact thing has been on my mind for my multitude of vintage machines. The link redirects me to the US site, where they're 99 cents today. I'll be ordering several. Thanks, this is a great find.

OK, where does this thread come from? How does it get into the "center of the space that the bobbin used to occupy"?

Is the loop going around the bobbin any different than the bobbin itself passing thru the loop? No. The top thread can pass around it because there's no stray thread feeding into the bottom. If the bobbin thread is coming from somewhere else and going thru the bobbin case ... The loop can't go around the bobbin case. The bobbin thread would be in the way. You must have a sewing machine around there somewhere. Open it up and see for yourself. Watch the thread go around the bobbin case and ask yourself how that would happen if there were a thread passing into it. No mas.

Exactly - you should study just what's happening when the stitch is formed. Then you'll see that you can't just wrap a single strand of top thread around the bobbin thread without the entire bobbin spool passing thru the loop of the top thread. I want it to be possible. Maybe your lack of understanding why it can't be done has allowed you a fresh perspective. I'd love to see a drawing or a model.

@mnp You should ask some specific questions and post pics that might help describe what you're wondering about. 206RB is a very common machine, though I don't personally know what the "ATCL" nomenclature stands for. I'd be pretty shocked if there was anything about these machines that someone on the forum doesn't know. Here's 47 pages of search results to get you started: https://leatherworker.net/forum/search/?q=206RB&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=50

I believe we've said the same thing ...

Ok, KGG posted a video here https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/132390-a-must-view-for-all-levels-of-sewing/ that has a large scale demo of the lock stitch, starting at 8:30. Watch it as the bobbin passes through the loop. It doesn't matter if the loop goes around the bobbin or the bobbin goes through the loop. It has to happen. It also doesn't matter if it's flat or vertical. The relationship is the same. Now, as you watch the demo, imagine instead the hook pulling the loop around just the endless bobbin thread. First of all, you'd have 2 strands of top thread going around the bobbin thread. Then one of two things would happen. Either the (Oscillating) shuttle would back out of the loop and the tension arm would snatch it all back topside. Or, the (Full Rotary) hook would keep spinning and wrap the top thread around itself, while the tension arm tried to snatch the top thread back to the topside. I don't know how else to explain it and I'd LOVE to be proven wrong.

I could see that being popular in rural communities. I painted my building the same scheme.

No, because if there's a thread feeding into the bobbin case from below, the top thread can't go around the bobbin case. You'd have to snake that bobbin thread down from the top ... Somehow. I'm happy to be wrong so we can start using 1 pound spools for bobbins. I just can't see it. You'd have to move the feeder thread for the bottom out of the loop forming top thread altogether. [EDIT: No, because you still have to loop the top thread around the bottom, it doesn't matter where it feeds from].

That one is already saved for me. It amazes me how many people use sewing machines yet have no idea how they work.

I hear you. I had the same vision myself. But think the process through. When the hook picks off the loop, the loop has to go around the bobbin. The loop has to loop around the whole bobbin so that there's a single thread around the bobbin thread. What you're envisioning would pull the whole loop around the bobbin thread. I made the same mistake. Unless you have a different vision. Go back and read the whole thread, where the the flaw in my thinking was pointed out to me. If you figure out how to do it, I want 10% of the gross.

I don't generally make things to sell, but i'm often asked about things I'm carrying or wearing. Be a walking billboard for your work. Be that "leather guy". Lots of times the conversation will include the difference between some item that puked out the back end of a factory in an unpronounceable province in some far off land and the bespoke, one of a kind item at hand.

Thank you for the detailed response. It gives me a lot to think about. I could definitely build a sturdy bench for heavier work and just use our regular tables and seating for the most of it. Interesting that you shared tools between students. My mind instantly went to "I'd need enough starter sets to have one for each student". I'm thinking that even in our small town of 1500 people, there'd be enough interest to do a beginning class a couple times a year. I'm often enough asked about my hats, suspenders, wallet, etc. I need to give this some serious thought about resources and lesson plan. Thanks for the inspiration and motivation!

Oh yeah, I've had a BOLO out on one of those old Nationals since I found out they existed ...

Yeah, my mind went there, too. It was pointed out to me that the needle thread has to pass around the entire bobbin in order to capture the bobbin thread. I can't remember if it was this thread or another that someone pointed out the similarity between this design and the large bobbin of the 441 class machines. The bigger the bobbin that the needle thread has to loop around, the more times it has to go through the sewn material and be pulled back up by the tension arm. There are some practical limits. But, how nice would it be to use a full spool in the bobbin??? Here's a link to the earlier post about the old National domestc machine that used a whole spool for a bobbin: https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/121438-why-do-we-still-use-bobbins/page/2/#findComment-758063

I love what you've done here. A small class with a good mix of ages and everyone got to do something unique to their knife. I'd be interested in how you structured it. I'm thinking you had to have done multiple classes. How many, spread out over how many days/weeks? Do you have your own space it did you borrow a place? I ask because I have a small community building with a space we can configure as a class room. I'm looking for something like this we could do. Sewing classes are on my mind. Congratulations on a great project.

@Brad denham Welcome to the forum! I slipped this over to the leather sewing machine sub forum. You probably need to repost those pics as .jpg, .png or something that non -Apple users can see just add them to a reply if the edit window is closed. Some words about what you're wanting to do or accomplish with the machines would help people offer more relevant help, maybe. Thanks

You know, somewhere I think I have a pallet of 60 watt incandescents stashed away. Maybe I have a market for them now!

I split this off that 8 year old thread and into a new topic for you. Let's see if someone can help you out.